Board for sliding on snow with sidewalls of variable width

ABSTRACT

A ski, monoski, or snowboard includes a central longitudinal core ( 7 ). Variable width side walls ( 13   a   , 13   b ) are connected with sides of the core. Reinforcement layers ( 8   a   , 8   b   , 8   c ) are connected with upper and lower surfaces of the core and the side walls. A protection and decoration layer ( 9 ) is disposed on an upper surface and a sliding layer ( 10 ) including a sliding surface (S) and two edges ( 11   a   , 11   b ) are mounted on the lower surface. Each of the variable width side walls includes an inner wall element ( 13″   a   , 13″   b ) and an outer wall element ( 13′   a   , 13′   b ). At least one of the inner and outer wall elements is thicker in selected regions, such as a central, front, and rear region, to enhance the grip of the edges in the selected region.

The present invention relates to a board for sliding on snow, such as a ski, a monoski, a snowboard, or the like. It more particularly concerns an improvement relative to a sliding board in which the structure is of the type called “sandwich”.

The practice of the sliding sports is acquiring more and more followers and has greatly evolved these last years with increasingly demanding practitioners for the quality of the products. That is, for example, the case of the sliding sports on snow.

One knows already very many models of sliding boards, and in particular of skis, which are made of a beam of elongated form and variable thickness, whose front end is raised to constitute the tip, while under surface includes a sliding sole bordered by metal edges.

Despite all the development efforts by the manufacturers to satisfy the customers, there does not exist, to this day, a ski combining perfectly the comfort of use with satisfactory characteristics of trajectory behavior, whatever the type of terrain, and whoever the user.

Certain solutions were proposed, such as for example by the constructions shown in the US published patent application number 2006/0091645, the French patent FR 1 294 003, the French patent FR 2 798 297, the Japanese patent JP 55 112577, the French patents FR 2 683 734, FR 2 670 392 and FR 2 675 391. But all these proposals have proven not to be perfect, and the present invention wants to thus cure that by proposing a sliding board not having the same characteristics of stiffness on its side edges in order to localize gripping zones on snow and to improve this gripping locally.

Thus, the board for sliding on snow according to the invention, having the shape of a lengthened beam of variable thickness, comprising a central zone known as of shoe extending toward the front by a front zone raising up at its end to form a tip, and towards the back by a rear zone finished by a heel, the aforementioned beam including

-   -   a central longitudinal core includes a beam extending         longitudinally,     -   at least a reinforcement layer     -   a top protective and decorative layer     -   a sliding layer made by a sheet of a material with low         coefficient of friction bordered by two edges,

while each of the lateral side faces of the core is a secured to a variable width sidewall respectively

is characterized in that at least one of the variable width sidewalls is constituted at least on part of the length of the board, of two interconnected sidewall elements, extending longitudinally, namely an internal sidewall element whose internal side face is secured with the side face of the core and an external sidewall element, whereas the width of at least one of the variable width sidewalls varies longitudinally, whereas the two sidewall elements are unified together by the co-operation of forms between the adjacent side faces, namely between the internal side face of the external wall element and the external side face of the internal wall element.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the description which will follow in accompanied by the annexed drawings which are given as nonrestrictive examples.

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic top view of a sliding board, according to the invention illustrating its various longitudinally meaningful parts.

FIG. 1 a is a side view, also diagrammatic.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are top views of two examples of embodiments of a sliding board according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a first exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a second exemplary embodiment.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are views according to a transverse section lines A-A for FIG. 4 and B-B for FIG. 5.

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic partial top half-view, of the variations of the sidewall including two undulating elements and according to which the external lateral face is inclined.

FIG. 6 a is an alternative embodiment of FIG. 6.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are transverse sectional views, according to C-C for FIG. 7, and according to D-D for FIG. 8.

Cut lines A-A, B-B, C-C and D-D are complete transverse sections, extending over all the width from the sliding board.

FIGS. 9 to 12 are diagrammatic top views in partial section similar to FIG. 6, illustrating four alternative embodiments, given that transverse sections A-A and B-B are complete cuts.

The board for sliding on snow 1 of the invention, such as a ski, a monoski or a snowboard, with the shape of an elongated beam, with vertical plane of general symmetry P, comprising a central zone known as the boot 2 extending forwards by a front zone 3 raised at its end to constitute a tip 4, and towards the back by a rear zone 5 terminated by a heel 6. Such a sliding board is schematically illustrated in FIG. 1 and the FIG. 1 a.

The sliding board the invention is for example of the type of construction known as a “sandwich”. Thus, and as appears clearly in FIG. 2, the body of the sliding board includes

-   -   a longitudinal core 7 made of a beam extending longitudinally,     -   at least one reinforcement layer 8 a, 8 b, 8 c     -   a top protection and decoration layer 9     -   a sliding layer 10 including a sheet of a material with low         coefficient of friction bordered by two metal edges 11 a, 11 b,         which define a longitudinal curve that one calls the edge line         LC.

wherein each side face 12 a, 12 b of the core 7 is brought together directly or indirectly a variable width sidewall respectively 13 a, 13 b including at least a longitudinal profile, namely a left variable width sidewall 13 a and a right variable width sidewall 13 b, the core which can be covered with a layer of reinforcement to constitute a torsion box.

According to the embodiments illustrated more particularly to FIGS. 4, 5, 7 and 8, and given as nonrestrictive examples, the body of the sliding board includes an upper reinforcing layer 8 a, and two lower reinforcement layers 8 b, 8 c.

In a known way, the reinforcement layers are of composite material such as fibers of glass, carbon, aramide, ceramics or the like impregnated with a thermoplastic resin or thermo hardening resin, or out of aluminum.

The protection and decoration layer 9 is for example of thermoplastic material such as out of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) or out of polyamide or polycarbonate or the like.

The sliding layer 10 is for example of polyethylene.

The variable width sidewalls 13 a, 13 b are of plastic such as for example of ABS type advantageously filled, or of compressed phenolic material

The core 7 is of wood or synthetic foam such as of expanded polyurethane.

According to the embodiments such as illustrated, each variable width sidewall 13 a, 13 b is a longitudinal section of which the height H is higher than its width e. It will be noted that the height H is substantially equal to the thickness of the core. Thus, the height H of each variable width sidewall is variable to change with the thickness of the core.

According to the invention the width e of at least one of the variable width sidewall 13 a, 13 b is such that over its length, this width evolves. In other words the width e of the variable width sidewall varies longitudinally, to present at least one zone of larger, more significant width than that which one finds in other places over the length. Of course, each variable width sidewall 13 a, 13 b can be affected by the variation of width.

According to the embodiments, represented by FIGS. 2 to 12, at least one of the variable width sidewall 13 a, 13 b includes two wall elements 13′a, 13″a-13′b, 13″b intimately bound, extending longitudinally, namely an internal wall element 13′a, 13′b whose internal lateral face 14 a, 14 b is united with the lateral side 12 a, 12 b of the core 7 and an external wall element 13′a, 13′b. Let us note that the two wall elements are connected together by the co-operation of shapes between the adjacent side faces 18′a, 18″a-18′b, 18″b, namely between the internal side faces 18′a, 18′b of the external element 13′a, 13′b and the external side face 18″a, 18″b of the internal element 13″a, 13″b.

According to the embodiment illustrated on FIG. 2, the external sidewall elements 13′a, 13′b, do not present an undulation, and follow the shape of the edge line while having a constant width e, and the internal wall element 13″a, 13″b presents an undulation in particular towards the plane P. Thus, variable width sidewall 13 a, 13 b includes two zones of lesser width 15 a, 15′a-15 b, 15′b separated by a projecting zone 16 a, 16 b known as a central projection extending towards the plane P, whereas the front zone of lesser width 15 a, 15 b is bounded towards the front AV by a front projection 16′a, 16′b, whereas the front zone of lesser width 15′a, 15′b is longitudinally bounded by the central projection 16 a, 16 b and towards the rear AR, by a rear projection 16″a, 16″b. It is understood that the succession of a projection 16′a, 16′b of a recess 15 a, 15 b of a projection 16 a, 16 b and a recess 15′a, 15′b followed by a projection 16″a, 16″b forms an undulation on the inner side 14 a, 14 b of the variable width sidewall 13 a, 13 b. This undulation is achieved in particular on a snowboard to improve its grip on the snow. Thus, thanks to the proposed construction the snowboard areas which define the gripping zones is maximum in the regions where the variable width sidewalls project and in particular the internal components of variable width sidewalls are protruding and of greater width.

According to the embodiments described above, it is the internal side face 14 a, 14 b of the variable width sidewall 13 a, 13 b, connected and secured to the outer side face 12 a, 12 b of the core 7 which includes one or more protruding areas 16′a, 16 a, 16″a-16′b, 16 b, 16″b, but it could be otherwise. For example, it is the outer side face 17 a, 17 b of the variable width sidewall 13 a, 13 b which may include the projecting zone to define the undulation or ripple.

According to the variant shown in FIG. 3, the inner lateral face 18′a, 18′b of the undulating wall outer element 13′a, 13′b presents an undulation in cooperating shape with and undulation of corresponding shape and dimensions, defined on the outer side face 18″a, 18″b of the inner wall element 13″a, 13″b.

According to the embodiments described above, the outer lateral sides 17 a, 17 b extend vertically at substantially a right angle A with the sliding surface S. Causing the outer lateral surfaces 17 a, 17 b of the variable width sidewalls 13 a, 13 b to be substantially perpendicular relative to the sliding surface S and longitudinally follow the edge lines LC.

That is FIGS. 4 and 5 are transverse cross sectional views along A-A in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 for illustration of FIG. 4 and according to B-B in FIG. 3 for the illustration of FIG. 5.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view from above of a variant in which the variable width sidewall 13 a, 13 b includes as above, two wall elements 13′a, 13′b-13″a, 13″b and such that the outer side face 17 a, 17 b is inclined. Wherein at the edges, the outer lateral face presents less curvature C1 while the upper part presents greater curvature C2, the two curves following along the edge line LC. This configuration can also be obtained by machining the variable width sidewalls. What will result if the wall elements are of a different color is to see in some places the color of the inner wall, creating color affects.

According to another embodiment shown in FIG. 6 a, and also in FIGS. 7 and 8, the angle of inclination A is variable to be of significant value in the area of the boot 2 and gradually decrease toward the ends. FIG. 7 is a sectional view C-C of FIG. 6 a, while FIG. 8 is a sectional view along D-D of FIG. 6 a.

Note that if the generated structure is sufficiently inclined, on the lateral sides the sliding board appears to be two elements making up the variable width sidewalls.

FIGS. 9 to 12 are partially sectioned schematic top views similar to FIG. 6, showing four embodiments.

According to the variant shown in FIG. 9 in the area of the boot 2 the variable width sidewall 13 a, 13 b includes only an internal wall element 13″a, 13″b while in the front zone 3 and the rear zone 1 of the sliding board, the variable width sidewall includes two interconnected wall elements 13′a, 13″a-13′b, 13″b, extending longitudinally, i.e. an internal wall element 13″a, 13″b whose internal lateral face 14 a, 14 b is secured to the lateral wall 12 a, 12 b of the core 7 and an outer wall element 13′a, 13′b. Note that two elements are joined together by cooperating shape between the adjacent lateral faces 18′a, 18″a-18′b, 18″b, i.e. between the inner lateral face 18′a, 18′b of the outer wall element 13′a, 13′b and the external lateral face 18″a, 18″b of the inner element 13″a, 13″b. Note also that according to this embodiment the width e of the edge varies. Note also that in the area of the boot 2 the variable width sidewall 13 a, 13 b includes only of the inner wall element 13″a, 13″b, while in the front zone 3 and the rear zone 5 the variable width sidewall includes two wall elements. FIG. 4 is a sectional view along section line A-A of FIG. 9. FIG. 5 is a sectional view along section line B-B of FIG. 9.

According to the variant shown in FIG. 10 the variable width sidewall 13 a, 13 b includes two interconnected wall elements 13′a, 13″a-13′b, 13″b, extending longitudinally, i.e. an internal wall element 13″a, 13″b whose internal lateral face 14 a, 14 b is secured to the lateral face 12 a, 12 b of the core 7 and an outer wall 13′a, 13′b. Note that as before, the two wall elements are joined together by cooperation of the shapes between the adjacent lateral faces 18′a, 18″a-18′b, 18″b, i.e. between the inner lateral face 18′a, 18′b of the outer wall element 13′a, 13′b and the external lateral face 18″a, 18″b of the inner wall element 13″a, 13″b. Note also that according to this embodiment, the width of the internal wall element 13″a, 13″b of the variable width sidewall is constant while the width of the outer wall element 13′a, 13′b varies to increase from the boot area 2 towards the ends. FIG. 5 is a sectional view along section line B-B of FIG. 10. It will be understood that the variable width sidewall 13 is made of two wall elements 13 a, 13′a in the front zone 3 and the rear zone 5 whose width varies along their length.

Note that according to the variants illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, the sliding board has two areas where the gripping is maximized located at the ends of said board, and more particularly in the front zone 3 and the rear zone 5, there where the variable width sidewall presents a greater width and is made of two wall elements 13′a, 13″a, while in the area of the soul 2, the variable width sidewall is made of the inner wall element 13″a.

According to the variant shown in FIG. 11 the variable width sidewall 13 a, 13 b is made of two interconnected wall elements 13′a, 13″a-13′b, 13″b, extending longitudinally, such that an internal wall element 13″a, 13″b whose internal lateral face 14 a, 14 b is secured to the lateral face 12 a, 12 b of the core 7 and an outer wall element 13′a, 13′b. Note that as before, the two wall elements are joined together by the cooperating shapes between the adjacent lateral faces 18′a, 18″a-18′b, 18″b, such that between the inner lateral face 18′a, 18′b of the outer wall element 13′a, 13′b and the external lateral face 18″a, 18″b of the inner wall element 13″a, 13″b. Note also that according to this embodiment, the inner wall element 13″a, 13″b presents an undulation and its width is constant, while the outer wall element 17 a, 17 b is such that its outer surface does not undulate, and follows for example the edge line LC of the sliding board. FIG. 5 is a sectional view along section line B-B of FIG. 11.

According to the variant shown in FIG. 12, the variable width sidewall 13 a, 13 b includes at least in some areas, two wall elements 13′a, 13″a-13′b, 13″b secured together, extending longitudinally, such that an internal wall element 13″a, 13″b whose internal lateral face 14 a, 14 b is secured to the lateral face 12 a, 12 b of the core 7 and an outer wall element 13′a, 13′b. Note that as before, the two wall elements are joined together by cooperating shapes between the adjacent lateral faces 18′a, 18″a-18′b, 18″b, such as between the inner lateral face 18′a, 18′b of the outer element 13′a, 13′b and the external lateral face 18″a, 18″b of the inner element 13″a, 13″b. Note also that according to this embodiment, the inner wall element 13″a, 13″b presents a undulation, while the outer wall element 13′a, 13′b is not located in certain areas, along outer the edge line LC of the sliding board. FIG. 4 is a view along section line A-A of FIG. 12, while FIG. 5 is a view along transverse section line B-B of FIG. 12. Note that according to the embodiment of FIG. 12, the variable width sidewall 13 is not composed of two wall elements 13 a, 13′a and in some areas of the ski, such as for example at least part of the boot area 2 and at least one part of the front 3 and rear 5 zones.

We have already seen that the two wall elements could be of different colors, but they could be of different materials, or the same material but with different mechanical characteristics and for example one of the elements can be such that the material has metallic or other inclusions. Note also that the width of the two wall elements can be the same width in transverse section or of different width, understanding that the inner wall element of the variable width sidewall is advantageously larger the external wall element.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described and illustrated as examples, but it also includes all technical equivalents and combinations thereof. Thus, the height B of the variable width sidewalls could be less than the thickness E of the core 7. Similarly the sliding board can be asymmetrical, particularly in regard to variable width sidewalls. 

1. A board for sliding on snow such as a ski, a mono-ski or snowboard, in the shape of an elongated beam of varying thickness, with a central area known as boot area extended forward by a front area raised to its end to form a tip, and rearward by a rear area ending with a heel, said beam including a central longitudinal core at least one reinforcement layer an upper protection and decoration layer a sliding layer including a sheet of material with a low coefficient of friction bounded by two edges such that each lateral side of the core is secured to a variable width sidewall respectively made by a longitudinal profile, at least one of the variable width sidewalls being made, at least on a part of the length of the board, of two interconnected wall elements of the variable width sidewall, extending longitudinally, namely an inner wall element of the variable width sidewall whose internal lateral side (14 a, 14 b) is secured to the lateral side (12 a, 12 b) of the core (7) and an outer wall element (13′a, 13′b) of the variable width sidewall, such that the width of at least one of the variable width sidewalls varies longitudinally, such that the two wall elements of the variable width sidewalls are secured by cooperating shapes between an inner lateral side of the outer wall element and an external lateral side of the inner wall element.
 2. The sliding board according to claim 1, wherein the lateral internal face of the variable width sidewall and/or the lateral external face of the variable width sidewall includes at least one projection located in a central boot area.
 3. The sliding board according to claim 2, wherein the lateral internal face of the variable width sidewall and/or the lateral external face of the variable width sidewall includes an undulation.
 4. The sliding board according to claim 3, wherein the variable width sidewall includes two areas of lesser width separated by a protruding area, namely a central projection, such that a front area of lesser width is bounded towards the front by a front projection and the central projection, and such that a rear area of lesser width is bounded longitudinally by the central projection and towards the rear by a rear projection.
 5. The sliding board according to claim 1, wherein the inner wall element of the variable width sidewall has a constant width, while the outer wall element of the variable width sidewall has a variable width such that the external faces follow a profile of an edge line.
 6. The sliding board according to claim 4, wherein the inner wall element of the variable width sidewall and the outer wall element of the variable width sidewall have a variable width.
 7. The sliding board according to claim 5, wherein the variable width sidewall in the front area and the rear area is made of two wall elements, while the variable width sidewall in the central boot area includes only the inner wall element of the variable width sidewall.
 8. The sliding board according to claim 1, wherein the inner side face of the outer wall element of the variable width sidewall presents an undulation in cooperation with a corresponding undulation presented on the outer side face of the inner wall element of the variable width sidewall.
 9. The sliding board according to claim 8, wherein the variable width sidewall is such that a part in the central boot area and a part in the front and rear zones includes two walls elements.
 10. The sliding board according to claim 1, wherein the outer side faces extend vertically to make substantially a right angle with the sliding layer, while generated surfaces generating the outer side faces of the variable width sidewalls are substantially perpendicular relative to the sliding layer and follow the edge line longitudinally.
 11. The sliding board according to claim 1, wherein the outer side faces extend upward to make an acute angle with the sliding layer, generated surfaces generating the outer side faces of the variable width sidewalls being so inclined upward and toward a plane of symmetry relative to the sliding and follow the edge line longitudinally.
 12. The sliding board according to claim 11, wherein the angle of inclination is variable to have a greater value in the boot area and progressively decreasing toward the ends.
 13. The sliding board according to claim 6, wherein the variable width sidewall in the front area and the rear area is made of two wall elements, while the variable width sidewall in the central boot area includes only the inner wall element of the variable width sidewall.
 14. A board for sliding on snow comprising: an elongated central core; variable width side walls, each variable width side wall including an inner wall element connected with the core and an outer wall element connected with the inner wall element; reinforcement layers connected to top surfaces of the core and the variable width sidewalls and to bottom surfaces of the core and the variable width sidewalls; a sliding layer connected with a bottom surface of the reinforcement layers, the sliding layer including a sliding surface bounded by edges.
 15. The sliding board according to claim 14, wherein at least one of the wall elements has wider regions which cause more grip by the edges than thinner regions.
 16. The sliding board according to claim 15, wherein at least one of the wall elements is wider in a central region.
 17. The sliding board according to claim 15, wherein the at least one side walls undulates in thickness to be thicker in front, central, and rear regions. 